They told you it would definitely happen using every media you can think of. But in today’s unpredictable politics there is one thing you can be sure of: Do or die, come what may, we are NOT leaving on 31 October.
First published in October 2019.
Remember these?
“Do or die, come what may, we are leaving on 31 October.”
“No border in the Irish sea.”
“I’d rather die in a ditch than ask for an extension.”
“I want everybody to know there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay. We are leaving on 31 October, no ifs or buts.”
These claims and statements by Prime Minister Boris Johnson came just a few of months after the European Council President Donald Tusk had officially announced that the European Union had decided to offer a long extension to the Article 50 process until 31 October 2019, with his now famous advice “Please do not waste this time.”
"Please do not waste this time" - @eucopresident Donald Tusk says "European Council [has] decided to grant the United Kingdom a flexible extension... [for #Brexit] until the 31st October" https://t.co/UKstUg8Gqf pic.twitter.com/fjuZnTQ3Rr
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) April 11, 2019
We now know that Britain will not be leaving the European Union on 31 October, especially because the EU accepted the UK’s request for another extension until 31 January 2020.
We also know that a General Election is now going to take place on 12 December.
As the UK is now gearing up for the 12 December General Election, it is important to remember what Conservative and Government officials have repeatedly said and claimed in the run-up to the 31 October Brexit deadline.
Starting with the top man...
Boris Johnson
During his bid to become Conservative Leader and Prime Minister:
This election comes down to a simple choice: change, or more of the same.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 10, 2019
More of the same means Brexit further delayed. Change means leaving the EU on 31st October, deal or no deal, so we can begin to unite our country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn
👉 https://t.co/tGRXu94CmT pic.twitter.com/qrI41EvZP7
This is it, folks. Less than 200 hours before polls close. As Prime Minister, I'll deliver Brexit by 31st October, unite the country and stop Jeremy Corbyn getting into Downing Street.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 15, 2019
If you haven’t received your ballot by now, please visit: https://t.co/596iOsh01u pic.twitter.com/8VBG3jZ6DK
Then, once elected Leader of the Conservatives:
It’s time to get to work to deliver Brexit by 31st October, unite the party, defeat Jeremy Corbyn - and energise our country!
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 23, 2019
Join us 👉 https://t.co/sbGYHRHKrk pic.twitter.com/8GKVhwUd55
Boris Johnson, 2 Sept 2019 / abc.net.au
'Ignoring the result of the referendum would be the worst thing for democracy.'@BorisJohnson says to protesters, not leaving the EU on the 31st October would do "lasting damage to people's trust in politics".
— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 30, 2019
Follow this story: https://t.co/G0bsLmsuRb pic.twitter.com/l5WNusrUpv
James Cleverly, Conservative Party Chairman:
"Politicians don’t get to choose which votes they respect."
— James Cleverly MP (@JamesCleverly) August 19, 2019
We will deliver Brexit by 31st October.
Tell Corbyn to respect the result.
✍️ https://t.co/Sdp83Iq1cf pic.twitter.com/kBjA6AWKFu
Conservative Party Chairman @JamesCleverly "“Unless and until we get an extension from the EU, [31st October] remains our exit date”. pic.twitter.com/gZPLIbdwo5
— BrexitCentral (@BrexitCentral) October 27, 2019
Nicky Morgan, Culture Secretary:
Culture Secretary @NickyMorgan01 "What the Prime Minister and the Government want is to get Brexit done; we have tried all we can to make sure that can happen by 31st October... The default leaving date is still this Thursday" pic.twitter.com/mP2qrC4MaK
— BrexitCentral (@BrexitCentral) October 27, 2019
Robert Buckland, Justice Secretary:
Justice Secretary @RobertBuckland "The date [31st October] was [the EU's] choosing in the Spring, we should respect that, and in respecting the choice our European friends made, we've worked night and day to get that sorted by 31st... We're not going to give up and walk away..." pic.twitter.com/7kwFngImvy
— BrexitCentral (@BrexitCentral) October 23, 2019
Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster:
#Brexit: Michael Gove insists UK will still Leave EU on 31st October. https://t.co/75zbuq8A9d @michaelgove pic.twitter.com/r9L9VO3vg1
— Oliver Burke (@olivergburke) October 20, 2019
Sajid Javid, Chancellor of the Exchequer:
.@sajidjavid insists that the Government can still get Brexit done by 31st October.
— Peston (@itvpeston) October 23, 2019
“If that means we have to sit Friday, Saturday, Sunday - sit every hour of the day - that’s what we need to do to deliver on the 31st ” #Peston pic.twitter.com/xuaeHHLBlk
Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons:
If we don't leave the EU by 31st October there will be no Conservative Party left. Only @BorisJohnson has the intellect and breadth to do this. Join the team at https://t.co/QVFVYh9HE2 #BackBoris
— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) June 28, 2019
Rees Mogg saying the conservatives are now unelectable due to trust issues.
— 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙣 (@pickledpuffin) October 28, 2019
You're welcome 😘 pic.twitter.com/7penS5Vwxg
Johnny Mercer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Veterans:
On politics live today. Labour’s position on BREXIT is pathetic - in a packed field in Westminster, the Labour Party remain the most dishonest charlatans going. We must leave by 31st October come what may. The principles of democracy trump all else; lose that and we’re in trouble pic.twitter.com/AeolDLnWFS
— Johnny Mercer MP (@JohnnyMercerUK) September 18, 2019
Mark Francois, ERG Member:
"if we don't leave on 31st October, this country will explode"
— dave ❄️ 🥕 (@davemacladd) September 17, 2019
Mark Francois has just imparted some horrendous, important news about our impending destruction and it's like no one is taking him seriously pic.twitter.com/urlHdOC83z
V awkward nowpic.twitter.com/pxzEDBAwab
— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) October 28, 2019
Andrew Bridgen, ERG Member:
Andrew Bridgen MP: "If we are still in the European Union on 1st November, I think that's the end of the Conservative Party." (23 July 2019)#BrexitExtension #Brexit pic.twitter.com/ofRSTttLXm
— Steve Bray #FBPE #StopBrexit #RevokeArticle50 (@snb19692) October 28, 2019
Owen Paterson, ERG Member:
People are justifiably angry at Establishment attempts to thwart Brexit. Great to hear @BorisJohnson robustly confirm that we will leave the EU on 31st October by leaving the Customs Union, Single Market and jurisdiction of the ECJ as @Conservatives promised in our 2017 Manifesto pic.twitter.com/2YSGsaQ4cn
— Owen Paterson MP (@OwenPaterson) September 25, 2019
In this afternoon's debate on the principles of democracy, I reminded the @HouseofCommons that the best way to address widespread public anger at the idea of democracy being thwarted is to deliver on the vote of the referendum and ensure that we leave the EU on the 31st October. pic.twitter.com/ATXeiprh4z
— Owen Paterson MP (@OwenPaterson) September 26, 2019
There are many more tweets, videos and interviews out there with other Conservative MPs or members of the Government repeating the same 31 October claims over and over.
Don’t be fooled by the beautiful promises that will be made during the incoming General Election campaign.
As you vote, think not just about what you want for yourself but what the right choice is for the whole of the UK – not just the British people in Britain but also the 5 million Europeans in the UK and Brits in the EU27.🔷
If you haven’t yet, please do register to vote today!
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[This is an original piece, first published by the author in PoliticsMeansPolitics.com on 29 October 2019. | The author writes in a personal capacity.]
